Budapest–Belgrade railway passenger service expected later this year

Hungary’s transport and investment minister Vitézy Dávid said passenger trains on the Budapest‑Belgrade line can only start after the Chinese contractor completes required software fixes and all safety and regulatory tests are passed. He announced that "dark‑run" trial runs could begin in early August, with full passenger service potentially launching in September if the trials are successful.

Prime Minister Peter Magyar added that the passenger traffic could be established within a month or two, and that Minister Vitézy will travel to Serbia to discuss signalling and safety system integration with Serbian officials. The Chinese ambassador pledged that the contractor’s bug‑fixes will be finished by next week, enabling the testing schedule.

The project, financed jointly by Hungary and Serbia, includes a modernised double‑track section designed for speeds up to 160 km/h and aims to cut travel time between the two capitals by about 90 minutes. Ongoing transparency measures include a full review of the contract and procurement process.